Work Support Systems

Choosing The Right Chip Conveyor

What You Dont Know Can Hurt Your Productivity
By Bruce R. Kiwala
LNS America, Inc.
Many people believe that choosing the right chip conveyor is a no-brainer. And many people
are wrong. Sure, on the surface it seems a simple task: Collect the metal cuttings and move
them to a chip hopper. Its analogous to taking out the trash. So how complicated can it be?
Surprisingly, there are many variables that you need to consider when adding a chip conveyor
to a new machine tool or retrofitting an existing operation. And with the advent of multi-tasking
machines that may produce several kinds and sizes of chips, the issue has become even more
complex.
Three of the most basic questions that you need to answer as you select a chip conveyor are:

Will the chip conveyor be moving mixed materials or will it be dedicated to one specific
type of material (brass, plastic, cast iron, etc.)?

What is the size and configuration of the material? Fine chips? Coarse or stringy?
Mixed?

What are the specifications and requirements of the machine tool the chip conveyor will
serve? Are modifications necessary to accommodate your specific installation?

Answering these basic questions will go a long way toward finding the right chip conveyor for
your application. Why is this so important? Because there are several types of chip conveyors
available, and each has unique characteristics that must be matched to specific requirements.
Otherwise the chip conveyor can malfunction with alarming regularity. Which means youll
experience workflow interruptions and increased maintenance costs. And your productivity will
suffer.
Are these problems the fault of the chip conveying system? Not necessarily. Even the bestdesigned equipment cant operate at peak efficiency if its being used incorrectly. Oh, sure, you
can drive a nail with a screwdriver but a hammer is much more efficient and less likely to fail.
Types Of Chip Conveyors & Appropriate Applications
No chip conveyor can do it all. So it helps to understand the capabilities and limitations of the
various kinds of equipment available.
Hinge Belt Chip Conveyors
There are more hinge belt systems in operation than any other kind. And for good reason: They
are versatile, affordable and reliable when used in the proper applications. These include coarse
and stringy ferrous, aluminum or mixed materials, and operations dedicated to only plastic that
has no fine chips. In most cases, therefore, turning machines are good candidates for hinge belt
systems.

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Work Support Systems

They are not the best choice for multi-tasking machines or other operations that produce fine
chips, whether in dedicated or mixed applications. This is because hinge belt systems do not
filter coolant to remove the fine particles that contaminate the fluid and can clog the conveyor,
coolant lines and pumps. Using hinge belt conveyors in these applications, therefore, leads to
interrupted workflow and excessive maintenance.
Magnetic Chip Conveyors
As you might guess, magnetic conveyors are designed for operations dedicated to working with
broken ferrous materials. Cast iron machining normally produces broken ferrous chips, so this
process is an excellent candidate for magnetic chip conveying. However, stringy ferrous
material that is longer than the magnet spacing is not a good application, as these long strings
will short out the magnets.
Because they magnetically attract all sizes and shapes of ferrous cuttings, these conveyors trap
the iron materials and allow the cutting fluids to flow out of the baffle pool below the conveyor
track, leaving the metal behind.
Obviously, using a magnetic chip conveyor with nonferrous materials defeats its purpose by
allowing chips to remain in the coolant, thus allowing fluid lines, pumps and the coolant tank to
clog and malfunction.
Filtering Chip Conveyors
Chip conveyors that also filter and recycle coolant back to the machine tool come in a variety of
configurations. These include those using replaceable filter media, permanent, self-cleaning
filtering drums made from stainless steel or other materials, and scraper systems that use
perforated box filters.
Again, it is critical that you match the filtering chip conveyor to the application. Some are
designed to be efficient only with fine chips while other filtering systems can handle fine, coarse
or stringy materials equally well. Certain materials, such as plastics or cast iron, present special
challenges to filtration systems and these must be addressed in the selection process.
Disc Conveyor Systems
For very large machine tools or entire factories, a disc conveyor system eliminates the cost of
non-direct labor to dispose of chips. Using segmented pipe sections combined with chip
conveyors and crushers that break up long, stringy chips, the system can be configured to
separate various kinds of chips, direct them to individual locations, and provide advanced
coolant recovery. These versatile systems can be routed in any direction, above or below grade,
are available in a variety of diameters and are easily reconfigured as production demands
change.
Other Selection Criteria
While matching materials and applications to chip conveyor capabilities is critical, there are
other important factors to consider:

Customization: Make sure the supplier has the ability to customize the chip conveyor
to properly interface with your specific machine tools and any modifications you may
have made to the equipment or installation. For example, can they raise or lower the
discharge point to accommodate your needs while still maintaining proper operation?
4621 East Tech Drive - Cincinnati, Ohio 45245
P: 513-528-5674 - F: 513-528-5733
www.lns-america.com

Work Support Systems

Frame Strength: The frame of the chip conveyor should be sturdy enough for your
application. One size does not fit all. So be sure your supplier offers a number of frame
sizes to insure a good match.

Breadth Of Products: Only a chip conveyor manufacturer that offers a complete

range of conveyor types can properly identify and provide the best chip conveying
system for your unique requirements. Otherwise you may end up with only the best
match the supplier can make, not the very best solution.

Applications Expertise & Technical Support: The only way to realize the best
return on your chip conveyor investment is to work with a company that has proven
applications expertise, depth of talent, a large population of successful installations, and
nationwide service and support provided by the companys own field staff.

Conclusion
Selecting a chip conveyor isnt quite as simple as some believe. Making the wrong choice can
lead to higher maintenance costs, unnecessary work stoppages and wasted coolant. To
maximize productivity, choose chip conveyor systems that best match your machines and the
kinds of chips they produce. Then work with a resource that has the breadth of product,
applications expertise, customization capabilities and support to insure the best return on your
investment.
Note: Bruce R. Kiwala of LNS America, Inc. has been specifying chip conveyors for more than
27 years. LNS helps manufacturers improve productivity with industry-leading Turbo Systems
brand chip conveyors, LNS bar feeds, coolant management systems, work support devices and
other production equipment. For a free Chip Conveyor Selection Guide slide-chart, visit
www.LNSamerica.com.

4621 East Tech Drive - Cincinnati, Ohio 45245

P: 513-528-5674 - F: 513-528-5733
www.lns-america.com